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F. S. MILEY. EXTENSION LAEDER. No. 598,615. Patented Peb. 8,1898.

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P. s. MILBY. EXTENSION LADDER.

No. 598,615. Patented Feb. 8, 1898.

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Nrrnn STATES [PATENT *FICFt FRANK S. MILEY, OF FORREST CITY,ARKANSAS,.ASSIGNCR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES H. SANDERS, OFSAME PLACE.

EXTENSION-LADDER` SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.`598,615, dated February 8, 1898.

Application filed .Tune 14, 1897. Serial No. 646,716. (No model.)

. zen of the United States, residing at Forrest City, in the countyw ofSt. Francis and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Extension-Ladders,

of -Which the following is a specification.

In the production of an extension-ladder adapted to be reeled andunreeled in its use I have devised a novel construction whereby theladder side bars are made double and pivoted together in sections in away to allow them to be separated and swung apart at their ends and toswing together in alinement by the engagement of their ends 8 inerecting the ladder within and through a guideway or cage to insureabsolute rigidity and security of the ladder when erected. In suchconstruction the laddersections are not connectedat their ends,

' but are pivoted by the rungs 7? to the end of the inner section atabout mediately of the length of the next contiguous outer section, theends of the side bars of each section being adapted for engagement byoppositely or reverselyv formedshoulders standing transversely of theladder-bar. front-edgeeinterlocking engagement with each other at9,below the pivots upon which the several link-sections swing, so thatas the link- 'sections are caused to swing into alinement to enter thecage or guideway, in so doingthey become rigidly locked-to 'each otherby the reverse oblique end abutting formations and the saidedge-interlocking engagements and pass out of the cage stiftlyconnected.In this operation the cage forms a coacting element to .maintain theladder-sections in solid alinement both'within and above the cage. The

provision for erectingand lowering the lad- Vder isA applied directlyitothe rungs of that part of the ladder which is braced and supportedwithin the cage, `whereby the ladder- 'rungs are utilized as a rigidrack and made a part of theelevating-gear, the power of which is appliedat the pivotal mounting of the cage, so as not to interfere with theadjustment of the inclination of the ladder.

In these and other particulars my invention consists of certain novelparts and combinations of parts which are particularly pointed Thelink-sectionshave a free as coiled upon the reel in position ready to beerected. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken at right angles to Fig. l,showing more particularly the guideway or cage within which the links-ofthe ladder are 'interlocked at their free ends, and each section isengaged by a rung 73 of one section entering an edge notch or recess inthe front of its connecting-section and `within which cage the ladder issupported in being erected. Fig. 4. is a rear elevation of the ladder.Fig. 5 shows the coupling of the ladder-sections and the Way in .whichthey are interlocked to make a stiff ladder as seen looking at the rearof the ladder, and Fig. 6 isa like view as seen looking at the front ofthe ladder.

I have shown the ladder as mounted upon and carried by afoundation-frame, but it will be understood that this frame is mountedupon a wagon or truck for transportation. This foundation-frameconsistsof strong connected sill-timbers l, upon which, near one end, aresecured strong pillow-blocks 2 2, suitably braced, in the upper ends ofwhich is mounted a transverse shaft 3, Whereon be"- tween the pillars ispivotally mounted or hung on a transverse shaft a guideway or cage.wherein the ladderiserected and supported.v

This cage is constructed of side plates 4t 4c, secured together bytransverse rods 5, arranged .in two rows, a front row and aback row, andbetween theserows of rods and the side plates the guideway or cage isformed open at the top and at the bottom and through which the ladder israised and lowered and by which it 'is supported when erected.Thiscageispreferably mounted mediately of its length andv is of a lengthsuficientto give a firm support to the ladder in erecting and inlowering it and forms a fixed ladder part by which to reach theextensiondadder. Upon its supporting-shaft the cage can be tilted togive the IOO ladder the proper inclination, and, the cage being mountedbetween the pillow-blocks, the latter serve as side braces to the cage,so that this cage becomes a braced hollow trunk, within which the ladderis reared and lowered and supported in every direction by the mereoperation of bringing the ladder-sections in alinement engagement withinthe cage.

The ladder is constructed of comparatively short sections, each sectionbeing composed of links 6, arranged in pairs separately side by side andunited by rungs 7, the links of one section lapping with the links ofthe other section, whereby the ladder has its side bars formed of achain of outer sections adapted to interlock with each other and sidebars of inner sections formed to abut with each other, making, ineffect, a ladder within a ladder united by the rungs. The links of theseinner and outer sections are in joining relation sidewise, and each pairof links are rigidly joined by the rungs. The ends of the links of eachsection have shouldered or step-like or similar formations, the steps Sof one end of each section standing obliquely across the bar, thereverse of the steps of the other end, so that the links of each sectionwill join in ali-nement,the steps of the links of one section abuttingwith the steps of the links of the contiguous section when the sectionsare placed in alinement, so that the links lap with each other at theirstepped or oblique ends. The links of the sections respectively lap witheach other for about half their length, and each section is connected,preferably, by several rungs,

one of which pivotally connects both sections; but to allow the sectionsto be connected with each other, so that each will be free to beseparated at their ends and to swing away from the other upon one of itsconnecting-rungs, the rungs connecting the upper ends of each sectionstandingl upward in the cage form the pivots, and the rungs next belowin each sec;

tion engage corresponding recesses 9 9 in the front edges of the linksof each section, whereby the sections will be free to open or separateat their ends and swing separately in relation to each other.

It will be understood that the rigidity of the ladder-sections to eachother when erected is effected bythe relation which the pivotforrningrungs have to the stepped, shouldered, orinterrnatching formation of theends 0f the links and to the rungs of each section, which freely engagethe recesses of each section. In further explanation of this andreferring to Fig. 5 it is seen that each laddersection is pivoted to theother by its upper rung, whereby the lower end of each laddersection isfree to swing away from the section next above it in being drawn intothe cage, and it is this construction, in connection with the edgerecesses 9 9 and rungs engaging said recesses, that the oblique steppedends are caused to coact to lock the sections together as a rigidstructure within the cage and as the ladder is erected from the cage.The mere bringing of the ladder-sections in alinement within the cagecauses them to be rigidly connected by the action of the oblique steppedends and the edge engagement of one link with the other at pointsbetween the end engagements. It is important to notice that while theends of the side bars of the ladder section stand transversely obliquethis oblique termination faces to the front side at the upper ends ofthe several laddersections, while atthe lower ends of said side bars theoblique terminations face to the rear side of the ladder. It is alsoimportant to notice that the surfaces of these oblique ends are brokenby a stepped formation, and that the matching form of the steps is suchas to present abutting surfaces at right angles to the length of thebars. 'This allows the ends of the bars to swing together as thesections are drawn into the cage, and that, although the steps standtransversely oblique'when the sections are in alinement, the square formof the steps gives the ends of the ladder-sections a square support uponeach other in the line of the ladder, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. It isthis construction of the ladder by which its sections are caused to beseparated at their ends, so that they will freely dive under and enterthe lower open end of the guidewayor cage and cause theirends to bebrought together, the oblique shouldered end of one engaging the obliqueshouldered end of the other. This construction of the ladder also allowsit to be rolled upon a reel, from which it is unrolled in the operationof erecting the ladder. This provision for erecting a ladder carriedupon and delivered from a reel to the erectingy mechanism, in which theoblique ends of the links-section are separated and brought together,forms a feature of my invention, as I will more particularly presentlydescribe.

It will be understood that the cage` itself by its front rods forms aladder by which to reachk the ladder proper when erected, and for thispurpose the front cage-rods form rungs by which a person can ascend thecage and step'from its rungs to those of the ladder.

For erecting and for lowering the ladder I provide the transverse shaft3, on which the cage is mounted, with apair of toothed wheels 10,adapted to engage the run gs ofthe ladder, and for this purpose thecross-rods at the rear side of the cage areinterrupted to allow thetoothed wheels to pass within the guideway of the cage to engage theladder-rungs. This shaft is operated by cranks 11, and the shaft hasratchet-wheels l2, which are engaged by pawls 13 on thepillowblocks,whereby to hold the ladder in its erected position.

A rack-bar 14 pivotally connects the upper end of the cage at each sidethereof, and each bar has a sliding connection with a bar 15, which ishinged to the base-frame. A crankoperated shaft 16 is transverselymounted upon the lower hinged bars and has pinions IOC IIO

17, which engage the rack-bars, whereby the latter may be raised andlowered to tilt the cage to give the desiredinclination to the ladder,because the tilting of the cage controls the position of the ladder.

For supplementing and cooperating with the rack-bars for adjusting theladder-carrying-cage I provide a windlass-shaft 1S, the rope 19 fromwhich connects the lower end of the cage andv holds it with certainty inthe position to which it is set by the rack-bars, and should the heightof the ladder be such as to endanger its tilting over with its cage thisrope will prevent such danger, and the winding of the rope assists totilt the cage, as may be desired, to nx the inclination of the ladder. Aratchet 2O on the windlassshaft and a pawl serve to hold this windlass.Upon their inner walls the cage-plates have small rollers 21, againstwhich the outer sides of the ladder move and which steady its movementand reduce friction and prevent binding.

The reel on which the ladder is coiled is preferably pivotally mountedupon the base-f rame a suitable distance from and in front of the cage.The reel consists ot' the swin g-ar1ns 22, which carry a hub or drum 23and which are pivoted to lugs 24 on the base-frame. The links of theterminal section of the ladder are pivotally connected to the reel-drumby one of the rungs, so that `by turning the drum by the cranks thelinks of the ladder are rolled up, so as to carry that part of theladder when lowered which is not contained and held in the cage. v

The object of pivoting the reel-supports is to allow the reel to beswung toward the Acage inunrolling the ladder-sections to thecage whenthe ladder is beingerected and to hold the link-sections in position tocause the oblique ends of the link-sections to come together as theyapproachalinement.

Extra ladder parts may be vcarried upon separate reel-hubs by atruck andmounted in the reel-supporting arms when an eXtra height of the ladderis necessary, the reeled ladder lengths being connected to the elevatedladder lengths by the pivot-forming rung, as I have described. In doingthis the erected ladder is detached from the reel-hub,

vthe latter removed from the reel-arms, and

the eXtra reel-drum mounted in the place of the empty reel and theladder-'section of the reel coupled together with the erectedladdersections, andin thisvway bylpiecing the ladder can be extended tothe desired height.

It is obvious the ladder can be raised and lowered by other thanhand-power and that the ladder can be used for all purposes for which itmay be adapted.4

Various changes in the form, proportions, and the minor details ofconstruction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacricing any of the advantages of my invention, and for this reason Ido not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto in precisedetail and construction, and while I have described and prefer topivotally mount the cage or guideway, whereby to render it adjustable,yet it may be otherwise mounted, so long as it is adapted to recive andsupport the ladder in the operation of erecting it and closing theladder-sections, one engaging the other, so that they are rigidlyengaged together at theiroblique ends within the cage.

While I prefer to pivotally mount the reel be seenthat the last uncoiledlink is connected to the swing-reel by one of the ladderrungs and thatthe side bars of `the inner and outer terminal ladder-sections areformed with shoulderedlends, so that with the terminal outer sectionsanother reeled length of ladder may be coupled by removing andyreplacingthe fastening. ladder-rung seen in the terminal link-section andmounting the full reel in place of the empty one upon the swing-reelarms. This provision for having separate reeled ladderY lengths inreadiness for being coupled -with a ladder alreadyerected renders itconvenient for quickly obtaining the desired height of a ladderconstructed of pivotally-connected sections adapted to be wound andunwound from a reel. This advantage I obtain by theemployment of theswing-reel and the manner of connecting the ladder with it, so that suchconnection may be separated from the empty reel and made with the end ofa reeled ladder length,\and in this way the desired number of reeledladder lengths may be properly mounted .and connected for erection inthe cage.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an extension-ladder, a ladder composed oflinks forming double side bars of sections, the sections being pivotallyconnected so that such sections will lap with each other side'by sideand disconnected at their ends, whereby to allow them to swingseparately of each other and to open and close with each other, the endof the links of one section being stepped or formed to engage a likeconstruction in reverse at the end of the'links of the contiguoussection whereby to render the ladder stiff when erected, and means forinterlocking the side bars between the pivotal connections of thesections. Y

2. In an extension-ladder, a ladder composed of two parallel sets oflinks forming double side bars of connected llapping sections, thesections being pivotally connected together, the links of each sectionhaving recesses into which the ends of the corresponding rungs` of thesections engage, the ,links at one end having forward standing shouldersor steps and the other ends of the links having rearward standingshoulders or steps, whereby the sections when erected to form loo IIO

the ladder are locked together in rigid alinement.

3. The combination with ythe shaft 3., the cage or guideway looselymounted thereon, gear l0 Iixed on said shaft arranged to enter one sideof said cage, and a ladder the side bars whereof are double and forminner and outer ladder-sections pivotally connected by the run gs, theends of the link-sections standing oblique in .opposite directions,stepped and free to swing toward and from each other, each sectionhaving onel `of its rungs adapted to engage and lock with the contiguoussection, the said gear adapted to engage the rungs, and the cage holdingthe ends of the ladder-sections in stiff engagement with each other andthe ladder itself in rigid engagement with the gear.

4. rlhe combination with a ladder composed of pivotally connected orcoupled link-sections, of a pivotally-mounted cage or guideway arrangedand adapted to receive and su pport the ladder in its erection, meansfor supporting and adjusting said cage and gearwheels arranged upon thecage-mounting engaging the ladder-rungs for raising and lowering theladder. p

5. The combinationwith aladder composed of pivotally connected orcoupled link-sections, of iiXed pillow-blocks, a shaft mounted therein,a cage or guideway pivotally mounted mediately ofits length upon saidshaft, a rigid support pivotally connecting the upper end of the cagefor adjusting its inclination, a windlass-operated rope connecting thelower end of said cage, and means whereby the ladder is raised andlowered within said cage.

6. The combination in an extension-ladder of a pivotally-mounted cage orguideway, a ladder of pivotally-connected sections, and means wherebyt-he ladder-sections are erected within the cage, of rigid supportsconnecting the upper end of said cage, a windlassoper ated ropeconnecting the lower end of said cage and crank-operated gear-wheel uponthe cage-mounting engaging the ladder rungs whereby to control theerection and descent of the ladder.

7 In combination a ladder composed of separate and distinct link partsextending one within the other the length of the ladder, the links ofeach section pivotally connected and forming when erected a ladderwithin a ladder, the ends of the link-sections being disconnected andhaving stepped terminations which lap with each other crosswise of thelinks when engaged, the abutting surfaces of the steps being at rightangles to the length of the links, a cage or guideway to receive andcause the stepped ends of the ladder-sections to be brought intoabutting engagement and means for interlocking the ladder sectionsbetween their pivots whereby th-e ladder is held by the cage as a rigidstructure.

8. In an extension-ladder the combination with a pivotally-mounted cageor guideway,

of a ladder the side bars of which are double and form inner and outerladder-sections pivotally connected by the rungs, the ends of thelink-sections being oblique, facing in opposite directions and stepped,forming shoulders at right angles to the length of the links, the linksof each section having the edge recesses 9, 9 and the links of eachsection having side projections 25, 25 adapted to engage the said edgerecesses whereby the laddersections are made rigid when erected.

9. In an extension-ladder, the combination with a cage forming ladderpart pivotally mounted upon fixed bearings and having an interior wayopen at each end, of a ladder of pivotally-connected sections, aswing-reel pivotally mounted in front of said cage in position to beswung down to deliver the ladder-sections into the lower open end of thecage and means whereby the ladder-sections are drawn 'into said cage anderected above the same.

10. The combination in an extension-ladder, with a pivotally-mountedcage or guide-- way open at each end, of a ladder of pivotally-connectedsections, means whereby said ladder-sections are caused to enter thelower end of said cage and to be drawn up and erected therein andtherefrom, a windlassoperated rope connecting the lower end of saidcage, the rack-bars pivotally connecting theupper end of said cage, thehinged bars having a sliding connection with the rackbars and a shaftmounted upon said hinged bars and having pinions engaging said rackbars,whereby the inclination of the cage is adjusted and secured to maintainthe ladder at the desired position.

ll. In an eXtension-ladder,the combination with the swing-reel armspivotally mounted, of a reel hub or drum mounted in the free ends ofsaid reel-arms, and a ladder of pivotally-connected sections connectedwith said hub, the said ladder being adapted for motilittog ing in theplace of the empty reel-hub, whereby separate ladder lengths maybeconnected with the erected ladder to give it a height greater than thatof a single reeled ladder.

l2. In an eXtension-ladder,the combination with a cage or guideway, of aladder composed of pivotally-connected sect-ions, the ends of the linksof each section constructed to be separated and brought together forrigidly engaging the sections with each other in the operation ofelevating it withinv said cage, a rung of one section engaging the linksof .the contiguous section to lock the ladder-sections, and meansadapted for rotatively engaging the ladder-rungs whereby to control itserection and descent and means for locking the elevating mechanism.

FRANK S. MILEY.

Witnesses:

T. C. MERWIN, N. B. FIZER.

